Yow, Ciampi Finally Meet On The Court

March 21, 2004|By JOHN ALTAVILLA; Courant Staff Writer

BRIDGEPORT — One of the great aberrations of the last two decades of women's college basketball will finally be rectified tonight at the Arena at Harbor Yard when North Carolina State and Auburn meet for the first time in the opening round of the NCAA East Regional.

Over the course of their careers -- they've combined for 59 years and 1,769 games -- the Wolfpack's Kay Yow and Auburn's Joe Ciampi have never coached against each other despite their national and international success.

The 10th-seeded Wolfpack (17-14) have been to a Final Four (in 1998) and Yow, who coached the United States to an Olympic gold medal in 1988, is four victories from 600. Seventh-seeded Auburn (21-8) played in three consecutive national championship games (1988-90) and Ciampi has won 600 games.

But their paths didn't cross until they arrived at this unlikely place.

``We could have done this in the warmer weather,'' Ciampi said.

And it's a place where the winner will likely be rewarded with a game against second-seeded UConn Tuesday for a place in the Sweet 16.

The Wolfpack haven't played in the NCAAs since 2001 and are coming off a loss to North Carolina March 7 in the ACC tournament. It has been a topsy-turvy season for the Wolfpack, who lost five straight conference games in January that put their season in jeopardy.

``Our execution was not that good early in the season,'' guard Nanna Rivers said. ``But coach pushed us every moment of the day to get better.''

After putting together a five-game winning streak, they ended their season with three losses in their last four games, a streak that coincided with guard Kendra Bell being diagnosed with mononucleosis shortly after a 33-point loss to Duke March 1.

There were a few pundits who predicted N.C. State might not make the tournament despite its success dealing with the nation's 12th-toughest schedule and nine games against Top 25 teams.

Yow said Saturday she thought the criteria for selection to the tournament was vindicated by the Wolfpack's inclusion. Now that they are in, she said Bell would likely start, even though she's only had one full practice the last three weeks.

``Auburn is a tough team from a tough conference [the Southeastern Conference],'' Yow said. ``They know all about competition on a day-in, day-out basis. They prepare for it. Joe has a system and his kids stay within it so well.''

But what the Wolfpack do best is no secret.

``We understand how good Kaayla Chones is on the inside,'' Ciampi said. ``We need to figure out someway to neutralize her. They do a great job from the inside out and that's our first concern.''

Chones, the daughter of former ABA and NBA center Jim Chones, averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. The job of taking her out of the game will fall to Auburn senior Le'Coe Willingham. Willingham has scored in double figures in 26 of 29 games.